Star Trek: Deep Space Nine wraps up last week’s cliffhanger by completely changing the balance of power in the galaxy, in “The Die Is Cast”. Meanwhile, “Explorers” proves that ancient Bajorans were pretty badass.
Trekabout Episode 181: The Die Is Cast/Explorers
Tales to Enrage
-Sorry to invalidate some of your discussion in this episode, but the device they use on Odo didn’t come from the Tal Shiar Infiltrator. The actual exchange is Tain says they have a device, the Lieutenant says he was not informed of this, and Tain said they didn’t have a need to use it before now. So it’s not coming from the Tal Shiar/Dominion, it’s coming from the Obsidian Order.
Eric Brasure
-Ack! That makes more sense though. Also Richard needs to pay more attention too. 😉
Mindy
-I know the writers of DS9 say they didn’t plan out the overall story in advance. This seems remarkable considering how great the overarching story is concerning Cardassian politics. This story progresses so logically. Richard doesn’t even know what’s coming, but he can speculate along the right lines because it all just makes sense. I didn’t realize how great this aspect of the show was until I did a binge rewatch.
I have another comment I’d love to make, but if Richard reads this, I don’t want to make it. But, it was another comment about the overall structure of the show, relating to a comment he made about story balance. So, I’ll just say that I really love how Richard is picking up on so many of the things that make DS9 such a great show.
Eric Brasure
-I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a separate DS9 wrap-up podcast when we’re all done with it, because I think it would be interesting to get a full view of the whole series from Richard’s perspective.
Travis
-Do it.
Richard
-Thank you for being sensitive to my spoiler ears!!!
Niner
-I really love this podcast and have never left a comment. I listen every week as soon as it drops. Love the fresh perspective on my favourite Star Trek series, Deep Space Nine. Unfortunately my first comment is going to be about the “Irish culture was formed by the British” statement. Wow. I know I shouldnt take the bait but…..
I grew up watching DS9 in Ireland during the Northern Irish peace process. The Bashir O’Brien enmity that grew to deep friendship had a major impact on me. The episode Explorers was the one that hit that home for me with the depiction of that friendship and also the A story of one culture slowly coming to terms with its past with another culture. The singing and drinking scene is one of my favourite scenes in all of Star Trek. When I saw it as a child it felt so wrong for O’Brien to be singing that song but also felt right too and I didnt know why. As I grew older I knew why. Its the acceptance and love of both very different cultures.
Irish culture was something that has been and still remains quite different to English in terms of Gaelic language, music, literature, etc. Even our humour is very different. The penal laws implemented in the past by the English government during the occupation of Ireland were measures taken to disrupt that old culture and make Ireland more English and it was pretty brutal. For example the Gaelic Language and Catholic education were completely banned,. The effect on Irish culture was to be resistent to alot of Englishness and you still see that in some communities today. I like to think the Irish English relationship today is a strong one now similar to those silly spacemen we saw in that old space station. We are very close but very different.
Ok that got way too political. Hope I made some sense. So….. sorry. I hate being that guy. You do an amazing podcast.
Thanks
Eric Brasure
-This is the problem with rambling on with half-formed thoughts–sometimes you get something really insightful or profound, and sometimes you stick your foot in your mouth. 🙂
You’re absolutely right of course! Where I think I was going with that, was that Irish culture was informed by British culture, and vice versa. I would never say that Irish culture was formed by English culture, but there was at least some idea about a “Britishness” that encompassed Irish, Welsh, English, and Scottish ideas and traditions (later, in the 20th Century mostly. You’re correct that before then “Britishness” mostly consisted of English dominance.)
I also think you see that in all the hand-wringing in the English press about the Scottish independence vote and what it meant for that more pan-British longing. Most of the time, though, the English only reexamine it when there’s a political or economic shock to the UK–as was certainly true in the 20th Century when Ireland won its independence.
Thank you so much for listening, and we hope you continue to enjoy the show!
Niner
-Thanks for the reply. I would still say that Britishness and Irishness is separate. Britishness is such a loaded term, especially in terms of Northern Ireland and the communities there. So I wont even try to define it here. I would agree there has been some cross pollination of cultures over the years. For example Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett and James Joyce are all Irish writers that had a profound effect on the English literature and if you were to think they were not informed by other English authors then that would foolish. But there has also been a lot of segregation of the cultures that has changed a lot in recent years, e.g. in the 1970s a Gaelic football player could be banned for his sport if he was caught playing a foreign game like soccer or rugby in his spare time.
As for foot in mouth syndrome dont worry about it. I still think the worst Star Trek related Irish faux pas is Up the Long Ladder. How Colm Meaney got through that episode I dont know.
Looking forward to start of Season 4. From Blood Oath in DS9 season 2 onwards is prime Trek for me. Same goes for TNG Season 3 to 6. So I am in for the rest of this run.
Mike
-Another great show as always and while I enjoyed the chat about Explorers I have to admit it was the only episode I skipped on my last rewatch of DS9. I know I missed the introduction of Leeta but I hate yes hate with a passion the idea of a FTL capable hand built space ship and that has forever soured me on the episode.
Eric Brasure
-It’s so pretty though!
Mike
-That could be an issue with Star Trek in general, I find the generic designs of ships from all the main races to be rather uninspiring so yes “sail” ships are different as is the Defiant but (shock/horror) I find the stick a couple of nacelles on a tube has been to death:)